Here’s what we’re seeing right now: Pickiness over location. Lengthy salary negotiations. And a feeling that candidates need to sell themselves more.

This all sounds exactly like what we saw 2 years ago. And 6 years ago. And (ugh) 10 years ago.

And it's not like these, or any other hiring issues, don’t get talked about in the industry. They just keep coming back like clockwork.

Jeff Smith and James Hornick discuss why this never ending cycles happen in the next The 10 Minute Talent Rant, 114 “Why Hiring Challenges Never Go Away”

Stop me if you heard this one: “People won’t be replaced by AI. They’ll be replaced by people who use AI.”

That’s a big talk track that’s gone around. Also, wrong. People are definitely getting replaced by AI.

And that’s the current state of AI in hiring. No one can predict the future. Gurus end up looking like idiots.

Jeff Smith and James Hornick discuss things they were already wrong about (so you don’t have to be) in the next The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 113, “AI Hiring Takes Get Stale, Fast”

In this episode of The Balancing Act, host Sarah Sheridan interviews Kate Dohaney, the global CEO of Orb Group and mom to two. Kate shares her unique path from performing artist to executive leader, detailing her transition through the music industry, advertising, and major roles at The Wall Street Journal and NewsCorp. She emphasizes the importance of resilience, being data-driven, and the power of surrounding oneself with the right people. Kate also discusses the challenges and rewards of balancing a high-powered career with motherhood, offering motivating insights for aspiring female leaders. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about career evolution, leadership, and family.

In a new episode of Beyond the Offer, Amy Onori joins Rosanna Snediker and Bill Gates to share her journey from media planner to SVP of Talent Acquisition at Publicis Media.

They cover:

• Taking smart career risks
• Building trust through recruiting strategy
• Creating efficient, scalable recruiting ops

An episode packed with insight for leaders, recruiters, and anyone navigating career growth. Tune in to learn more!

The entry-level job market is bad!

Crowd: “How bad is it?”

It’s so bad that journalism majors are having an easier time finding work than computer science grads.

(That part isn’t a joke. 6.1% unemployment vs. 4.4%.)

Despite a strong overall job market, recent grads are getting squeezed. “Entry-level” roles now require experience, companies have slashed college recruiting programs, and AI is replacing a lot of junior work entirely.

But why is this happening? And what can new grads do about it?

Jeff Smith and James Hornick unpack all that in The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 112, “The Crumbling Entry-Level Job Market”

In this quarterly update, Emily and Ryan hosted Hirewell CEO, Matt Massuci, where they dove into company-wide and practice-specific hiring trends from the start of 2025. While January and February lagged behind expectations—down 10% year-over-year—March brought a 25% surge, signaling renewed momentum. Executive search and interim hiring are on the rise, even as Solutions work has slowed. Despite external factors like Liberation Day causing brief delays, the last six weeks were the strongest of the year, especially the past two. Practice leads weigh in with mixed performance: CF and GTM are seeing higher deal volumes but softer billing, Industrial is driving growth through high-level searches, and Tech, while down, appears to be stabilizing. Net-net: 2025 began slower than 2024, but all signs point to a strong rebound.

In this episode of 'The Balancing Act,' host Sarah Sheridan interviews Suzanne Jakstavish, an HR executive with over five years of experience and a mother to a 15-year-old son with autism. Suzanne shares her unique career journey, the impact of her parents' professions, and how her experiences have shaped her leadership style. The conversation delves into the challenges and joys of raising her son, the lessons he has taught her about leadership, and the importance of work-life integration. Suzanne also discusses the evolving support for working parents, the importance of flexibility in the workplace, and offers valuable advice for integrating career and family life. Join us for an inspiring and insightful discussion on managing both career and family dynamics.

Candidate Experience sucks right now. That’s it. That’s the show.

If you think back to 2021, when the job market was on fire, it was top of mind for everyone. Not just LinkedIn think pieces, but companies poured lots of time and effort into white-glove interview interview processes.

Now that the market cooled off, so did the effort. But there’s a disconnect: attracting talent isn’t any easier right now. In fact, it’s harder when you inadvertently cut corners.

Jeff Smith and James Hornick explain why ignoring candidate experience is costing companies big in The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 111, “Candidate Experience Has Never Been Worse”

Date and Time: Wednesday, May 14th at 11 am CT

Add to your calendar here.

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Replays will be available via Hirewell Talent Insights.